CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 They’re easy to knit (5) 6 Soft as daddy? (5) 9 There’s a Yankee at most rehearsals, we’re told (7) 10 Bit of a catastrophe possibly at the barber’s (5) 11 Emerges as a leak when you read the footnote (5) 12 Like a special guard with its own roll (5)

13 Beastly naval hero? (3,4) 15 In short, you’re the boss (3) 17 Uniquely featured by Baron Lytton (4)

18 Lying, yet facing up to things (6)

19 Some hairpiece worn significantly? (5)

20 Fear of Revolution? (6) 22 Opening in the casino industry? (4)

24 Derby, perhaps (3) 25 Martian woman? (7)

26 But it could be more exciting if the lion were after him? (5)

27 Overweight porter? (5) 28 Be the right shaped peg (3,2) 29 Straightened out the grid, maybe (7)

30 Said not to be a low female beast (5) 31 Intimidate the deer around central Austria (5)

DOWN

2 Bad two points on the trot, perhaps (6) 3 Completely taken up by the Doctor on a bit of telly (6) 4 Boy’s informal name for a month (3)

5 Colour possibly worn by a bighead (5)

6 Faint when you successfully finish the course? (4,3) 7 They’re singularly positive (4)

8 Did dad have one when very young? (6)

12 Possible means of detecting arson? (5)

13 One way in which love can get shut out (5)

14 Ready to change later (5) 15 Did he sing a number in “Gigi”? (5)

16 Redhead apt to flare up when struck (5)

18 Could playing it be bit of a strain? (5)

19 Nelson’s girl (7)

21 Such humour could certainly be hearty (6)

22 Pace of a fast rider (6)

23 Where log may be doing well (2,4)

25 Methinks not writing fluid (5)

26 Go off for a spin? (4) 28 Supplied from the safe deposit (3)